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Updated: Jul 22, 2025
Invasive Hemodynamic Characterization of the Portal-hypertensive Syndrome in Cirrhotic Rats
Published on: August 1, 2018
Do You Have To Evaluate The Heart Of The Cirrhotic Patients?
Mohammed Hussien Ahmed1, Mohammed Said Radwan1, Ibrahim Fathi Amer1
1Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious diseases, Kafrelsheikh University,Egypt.
Insights
Cardiac dysfunction is common in liver cirrhosis patients. Advanced liver disease severity correlates with cardiac abnormalities, indicating a need for cardiac evaluation in these patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Hepatology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Liver cirrhosis is a significant global health concern.
- Cardiac dysfunction can be present but often undetected in patients with liver cirrhosis.
- Early identification of cardiac issues is crucial for managing cirrhotic patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of occult cardiac dysfunction in liver cirrhosis patients.
- To determine the relationship between the severity of liver impairment and cardiac dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 300 adult liver cirrhosis patients.
- Cardiac evaluation using electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiography.
- Liver disease severity assessed by Child-Pugh and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores.
Main Results:
- Significant cardiac changes were observed in cirrhotic patients.
- Patients with more severe liver disease (higher Child-Pugh and MELD scores) exhibited a higher prevalence of cardiac abnormalities.
- Specific Child-Pugh and MELD score thresholds accurately predicted cardiac abnormalities.
Conclusions:
- Liver cirrhosis is associated with significant cardiac alterations.
- Cardiac dysfunction is more pronounced in patients with advanced liver disease.
- Routine cardiac assessment should be considered for patients with liver cirrhosis, especially those with severe impairment.
Objectives:
To identify patients with occult cardiac dysfunction and itsrelationship with the severity of liver impairment.
Method:
This is a Judgment (Purposive) Sampling, cross-sectionalstudy that was conducted at Kafrelsheikh University Hospital, Egypt, from November 2019 to December 2020, and comprised adult patients of either gender with liver cirrhosis. After detailed history, a clinical examination, pathological assessment and cardiac evaluation based on electrocardiogram and echocardiography, the patients were divided into three groups. Patients who had dyspnoea or cyanosis were in group A, those who did not have dyspnoea or cyanosis but had electrocardiogram and echocardiography abnormalities were in group B, and patients who did not have dyspnoea, cyanosis or electrocardiogram and echocardiography abnormalities were in group C. The severity of the liver disease was evaluated using Child-Pugh and Model of End Liver Disease scores. Data was analysed using SPSS 20.
Results:
Of the 300 patients, 153(51%) were males and 147(49%) were females. The overall mean age was 55.1±5.1 years(range: 20-60 years). There were 58(19.33%) patientsin group A, 108(36%) in group B and 134(44.66%) in group C. Group A patientsshowed higher Child-Pugh and Model of End Liver Disease scoresthan the other groups(p<0.05). Child-Pugh score >6 and Model of End Liver Disease score >37 yielded the best accuracy for detecting cardiac abnormalities in group B (p<0.05).
Conclusions:
There were significant cardiac changes in cirrhotic patients.
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